"That was the biggest shitshow I've ever seen," Lorcan ranted.

Various members of the Potter/Weasley family were sitting around him, all being very quiet. Ginny Potter gripped her husbands hand tight, only half listening. She wondered guiltily if it was her fault her children had all turned out this way. They had set a good example for their progeny she reasoned. She had never cheated on her husband, never even thought about it. But they had been busy. Harry heading the Auror's Department and her with her Quidditch career and then with her reporting job. Maybe if we had spent more time with them over the summers she thought. Or maybe they had created a situation where their children all wanted to get married young. After all Lily had almost gotten married three years ago to that Andrew boy without even thinking it through. And James' marriage was the biggest disaster since…

She was snapped out of her thoughts by a gentle nudge from her husband.

"Lorcan says we have to do some damage control," he said quietly. "But I'll handle it."

Ginny nodded gratefully. Harry had always been far better with the press than she had. Less inclined to make giant bogeys attack reporters at any rate.

"We should have a family meeting though," he said, his expression utterly serious. "Not extended family. Just us."

She nodded again, unable to say anything. He kissed her lightly.

"It'll be alright," he said, with a small smile. "We defeated the most evil wizard the world's ever seen. We can handle this."

"Can we?" his wife asked, sounding oddly defeated.

He just shrugged. Because the truth was that he didn't know. Give him something to curse and he could do it. Ask him to plan a strategic way to infiltrate possible neo-Death Eater organisations and he could do it. This was far more difficult. As he made his way outside where the ravening hordes of the press awaited him he wondered if by defeating Voldemort they had somehow spread his evil everywhere. Because it was no longer concentrated in just one place. Maybe it wasn't really evil anymore, just selfishness and greed but it was still out there. He then shook his head. He was getting fanciful in his old age, he thought ruefully.

Meanwhile back in the confines of the Burrow's living room Lorcan's long-winded spiel was coming to a close.

"You people were supposed to be his greatest asset," Lorcan said, earnestly. "And you still can be. So please just keep the scandals to a minimum for the next few months and then go back to all your incestuous screwing. I don't even care. Just help me make Scorpius minister first."

He rather pointedly, directed his words at mortified and guilty looking Sophie and Al and a wooden looking James.

Not sure what do and sensing he was finished everyone started moving toward the fireplace, preparing to depart.

"Wait," he said, pressing the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "Lily, Xavier, Lucy stay behind."

"Okay you two," he said, gesturing to Lucy and Xavier. "We have to release an official statement from the Scorpius for Minister campaign. Come up with something by tonight. James and Al cannot campaign until this whole thing has died down so we need to come up with a new strategy. See if Wood, Thomas and Corner can pick up their slack. Wood'll make a useful substitute for James. He isn't a Quidditch player but his father was the Scottish captain. It should be enough."

Done boss," Xavier said with a mock salute. "We'll handle it."

"Just relax," Lucy added. "Nothing we can't fix."

Lorcan just nodded tersely and they departed. There was an uncomfortable silence and Lily cleared her throat.

"You needed me?" she asked.

"You knew about this didn't you?" Lorcan asked, his voice low but oddly dangerous. "And you didn't tell me."

"What?" Lily asked, utterly befuddled. "How is this any of your business?"

"Are you kidding?" Lorcan cried. "This is the definition of my business."

"It had nothing to do with Scorpius," Lily said, through gritted teeth. "I can't believe you're angry with me."

"And then you go and blow it up in the middle of a fundraiser," Lorcan said, his tone steely. "There've been a lot of things said about you Lily Potter, but no one ever said you were stupid."

"Because I'm not," Lily said, stung. "I'm sorry I care more about my family than this stupid campaign."

"This stupid campaign?" Lorcan said incredulously. "You are stupid. This is the future of the wizarding world."

"Well forgive me if I think we've given more than enough to the wizarding world already," Lily said angry. "You don't get it do you? You pretend to but you absolutely don't. We can't have normal lives because my father was a hero. Do you think that's any sort of reward for being a savior? I'm sorry if I just don't give a shit about public opinion anymore. And I'm sorry that supporting my family conflicts with supporting Scorpius' redemption trip."

"Is that what it is?" Lorcan asked, suddenly far less hostile. "This whole thing? A redemption trip? Sins of the father and everything?"

"No," Lily said quickly. "Well…I don't know. Probably not."

Lorcan sank down into one of the comfortable sofas and let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry," he said. "It's just that no one is making this easy. Not your family. Certainly not Scorpius."

"Not exactly down with being morally reprehensible like you?" Lily asked, sitting next to him.

"He said no to a massive donation from the Crabbes," he said. "They didn't even want to go public. But he said if he couldn't tell anyone where the money was coming from he wasn't going to take it."

"Sounds like Scorpius," Lily said. "He might be ambitious but he's also very principled. Ends don't justify the means y'know."

"Yeah yeah," Lorcan said, burying his head in his hands.

"But you know he'll be a good Minister," Lily said comfortingly. "Doesn't matter if it's a redemption trip. And even though I won't tell you when my idiot brothers are doing stupid things I'll try to make sure they yell at each other in private."

Lorcan's body started shaking and much to Lily's indignation she realized he was laughing.

"What about all of this is funny to you?" she asked, vexed.

"Albus is fucking James' wife," Lorcan said, snickering. "It's funny."

"It is absolutely not," Lily said, but for some reason his laughter was infectious and she found herself laughing too. Honestly it was nice not to have a horrifying secret weigh her down. She consoled herself with the thought that this was relief laughter.

"Yes it is," he said. "God if this wasn't going to screw us with everyone who believes in family values I would actually find this hilarious."

"Seems like you already do," Lily said dryly.

"Yeah but I could find it hilarious in public," Lorcan said controlling himself.

"Morally reprehensible," Lily said, with a shake of her head.

"Oh don't kid yourself," Lorcan said dismissively. "You like that."

"Trust me, I don't," Lily said, her actions rather belying her words as she moved a little closer to him.

"Oh you like that I live in a grey area," he said, bending his face down to hers. "And you like that I'm honest about it. At least I don't even pretend to wear the white hat."

"I like the white hat," Lily said. "I always have."

"And how's that worked out for you so far?" he asked, closing the miniscule gap between his face and hers and pressing his lips to hers.

And suddenly (even though she wasn't quite sure how) she was on top of him, straddling him as his hands made their way up her shirt.

"Thought I wasn't worth the effort," she said, as he moved his lips to her neck.

"You aren't," he whispered into her neck.

"Seems like I am," she said, moving her lips back to his.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked.

"You mean far away from the place where my grandparents could walk in anytime?" she asked. "Why would you think I would want to get away from here?"

She slid herself off his lap and they made their way to the fireplace.

"Your place or mine?" he asked.

"Since I'm currently living in a motel I think your place is a better idea," she said.

"25, Holly Oak Road," he said, handing her the green powder. "Incendio." He pointed his wand at the fireplace.

"See you there," she said, with a smirk. She threw the powder into the flames and stepped in.

"Well that was awful," Scorpius groaned as he sank into his couch.

"I need a drink," Rose said, throwing herself down next to him.

"I don't think I can ever drink again," Scorpius sighed. He stretched out across the sofa and put his head in his girlfriend's lap.

"Yeah I don't think you ever should drink again. I'm impressed though. You managed to not throw up on journalists."

"I think it might've been better if I had," Scorpius said darkly. "Then they wouldn't be preparing to crucify Al in the court of public opinion tomorrow."

"Ever think that Al might deserve to be crucified?" Rose asked mildly. "Just a little."

"Thought he was your best friend," Scorpius said. "Shouldn't you be a little more charitable?"

"He's your best friend," Rose said. "And James didn't quite deserve that now did he?"

"He hasn't exactly been the model of a perfect husband has he?" Scorpius said. "And you slept with me didn't you? Even though Lily and I…"

"You dated at Hogwarts," Rose said dismissively. "James married Sophie."

"Well anyway I'm probably not going to become Minister after that shitstorm," Scorpius said.

"You aren't going to win because James and Albus are idiots?" Rose said skeptically.

"Damage to the Potter brand means damage to my brand," Scorpius said, sitting up.

"Well what are we going to do then?" Rose asked.

"Nothing we can do," Scorpius said with a shrug. "What's done is done."

"You don't believe that," Rose said, feeling vaguely angry for some reason. "You aren't allowed to. There has to be something we can do to fix this."

She entwined her fingers with his. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

He had an odd look in his eyes and then suddenly, without quite realizing what was coming out of his mouth he said, "You can marry me."

"What?" she asked flabbergasted. "Scorpius-"

"Marry me," he said again.

"Is this because it'll help with the campaign because I don't understand-"

"It's got nothing to do with the campaign," he said as he slid off the couch and went down on one knee on the floor. "I want you to marry me."

"This is ridiculous," Rose said.

"Why?" he said. "This whole campaign's gone to shit. Al's running the law firm fine without me. Marry me and we'll travel the world. We'll track down Crumpled-Horn Snorkacks. We'll go to India and see where they first made magic carpets. We can even ride one. Come on. We have enough money to do it. Let's get married and run away."

You haven't even told me you love me yet." The words burst from Rose's mouth without her even realizing.

Scorpius looked up at her, his grey eyes intense. "Didn't think I needed to," he said.

"Well you do need to," Rose said, the beginnings of a smile appearing on her face. "You need to say it a lot."

"I love you," he said. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Rose quickly made her way off the couch and knelt down in from of him. "And I love you too. That's why I'm not going to run away with you."

"You aren't?" he said hurt creeping into his normally deadpan face.

"No," she said. "I'll marry you but I won't run away with you. It'll just be unfair to Mum. She's been dying to see us get hitched."

"So we aren't running away because of your mother?" Scorpius said skeptically.

"And because you're going to be Minister For Magic," Rose said.

"But-"

"Please Uncle Harry could take his pants off in public and do a hula dance and the wizarding world would still forgive him," Rose said, amusement in her voice. "Lorcan, Lucy and Xavier would've swept this under the carpet by tomorrow morning. You're going to stay here and beat Drudge. Because you have to. And besides I don't want to be the wife of some rich loser who's going to blow his savings on a trip around the world. I want to be the wife of the Minister For Magic."

"You make an excellent argument," Scorpius said, kissing her lips lightly.

"I know," she said smugly.

a/n: So it's been a while. I am so so so sorry. I don't even have excuses. But please tell me what you think!